Okay.. I was reading an article in my local newspaper about how the police are not "out to get us." It had direct quotes from our police chief about how there is no "quota system" but police are still judged on performance logs.

So my question to any law enforcement, former or present: Is there or was there really a quota system?

Even though there is no official "quota" according to our chief, if the officers are still evaluated using these performance logs, isn't that their motivation to issue more fines if they know they could lose their job because of no evidence of their work? I've also noticed here that it seems like the cops are pretty docile most of the time, but then they all seem to start cracking down at the same time, and only for about a few days to a week.

I don't hate cops for doing their jobs, it just seems like there is some surreptitious behavior going on higher up on the chain...

 

Always, always, justify your job. Not necessarily quotas, but get out there and do something!

 

Of course. Anything worth doing is worth doing right...

 

Well, how can you have a quota for the number of crimes that may happen..... What do you do if you don't reach it?

Some areas are just more "strict" IMO. I know there is a small town not too far from me that I won't even run the speed limit (35). I run about 1-2 mph slower. (yes, they are that bad)

 

well i dont know abot quota`s but they did catch a couple of officers that were competeing for who could give out the most dui`s in a small town near me and they ended up throwing out all there dui cases.
I have known many police officers over the years and have found that most are pretty good guys! (1 in particular)
My brother-in-law was a cop for about 6 yrs and it made him an arse, So he quit he got tired of dealing with all the dregs and low lifes,drunks,etc..
He said there were some good points but not enough to outway the bad.
So my hat is off to anyone that can do it for a lifetime and still remain a descent human being!!

 

Former law enforcement from 3 different jurisdictions....(same as your BIL oldschoolfreak.....burned out. Stayed long enough to have them pay for my education).

No specific quotas. But an officer did indicate how many tickets were written in a given month on a Monthy Activity Log...which you were evaluated on.

Sporatic increased activity is an indication the shift supervisors had made "comments" regarding lack of activity, or of the need for increased enforcement, of specific targeted acts, in an area....red lights, speeding, etc. This usually eminates from "upper" management, because of citizen complaints, funding, accidents, etc.

 

Ticket quotas are mostly illegal, but competition for shifts, holidays, vacations, promotions, and whatever else they want is not. About the only law enforcement types who aren't judged on ticket enforcement are state police/highway patrol troopers.